Kade Bruno had an unconventional trip to center stage on Championship Sunday at the Calgary Stampede but after it was all sorted out, he claimed his first ever Calgary Stampede Bronze. He left it all in the arena and is your Exmark Roughstock Athlete of the Week.
Bruno’s trip to Calgary had him in Pool C where he would wind up the No. saddle bronc rider advancing to the Semifinals. That was in thanks to three impressive rides that brought his total money earned to $14,375 from just the Pool.
It all got rolling with an 84.5 on Calgary Stampede’s Zelda Whitney before he put an 87-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Uvid Bubbles in Round 2. An 88.5-point ride on Smokin’ Hippy of Northcott and Yule Rodeo would be his highest marked ride until he nodded in the Semifinals.
Bruno loaded up with big rides on Championship Sunday when an 88 on Calgary’s Business Girl advanced him into the Final Four. It was there that his match up with Tokyo Bubbles was worth 92-points. He would end up in a tie with three-time Calgary Stampede Champion Zeke Thurston which calls for a Ride Off.
Bruno’s horse for the Ride Off is none other than Northcott and Yule’s Mary Lou. For the third time on Championship Sunday, he went toe-to-toe with an exceptional bronc and for the second time, put a 92-point ride on top of the leaderboard. By a point and a half, Bruno is your 2024 Calgary Stampede Saddle Bronc Riding Champion.
He is now the No. 4 ranked saddle bronc rider in the PRCA World Standings, in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career and he adds to it by being your Exmark Roughstock Athlete of the Week.
